Encouraging innovative solutions to help prevent and reduce homelessness
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia Employment and Social Development Canada
Today, Sean Fraser, Member of Parliament for Central Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development announced two calls for proposals under the Innovative Solutions to Homelessness funding stream of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) program. The two calls for proposals are seeking projects with innovative approaches and ideas that aim to prevent and reduce homelessness, particularly among Indigenous Canadians, youth, women fleeing violence and veterans. Both calls open September 26, 2016.
The Call for Proposals for Microgrants is open until October 21, 2016. Stakeholders and organizations are invited to apply for small-scale project funding of up to $25,000. Projects will focus on exploring effective and innovative practices, tools, or initiatives that prevent or reduce homelessness in Canada.
The Call for Proposals for Contribution Projects is open until November 14, 2016. Stakeholders and organizations are invited to apply for funding of between $25,000 and $500,000 for large-scale pilot projects that aim to test innovative and promising interventions and practices to prevent or reduce homelessness in Canada.
On June 2nd, the Government of Canada confirmed its committed to helping prevent and reduce homelessness across Canada. By investing an additional $111.8 million in the HPS over two years, the Government continues to take measures to provide direct support and funding to Canadian communities. More than $12.5 million of that new funding is being invested towards the Innovative Solutions to Homelessness funding stream, including in the two calls for proposals launched today. This will allow a wide range of organizations and stakeholders to develop and test innovative approaches to prevent and reduce homelessness.
Quotes
“Our government is committed to pioneering dynamic new approaches that will enable communities across Canada to work more effectively towards combatting homelessness. Today we are launching two distinct calls for proposals. These calls will provide stakeholders, organizations and new partners with the opportunity to obtain the support they need to explore and put into action cutting-edge project concepts that address homelessness, particularly among Indigenous Canadians, youth, women fleeing violence and veterans.”
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
“In Central Nova, many organizations help families and individuals by giving them hope and dignity, and a chance for a new start. While progress is being made towards preventing and reducing homelessness across the country, the challenge is finding solutions that last. We need innovative solutions in order to address the needs of different homeless populations including youth, women fleeing violence, Indigenous Canadians and veterans. Today I encourage all eligible organizations and citizens from Central Nova to submit a proposal for an innovative project. Your fresh perspective and new ideas are just what we need to help achieve our goal."
- Sean Fraser, Member of Parliament, Central Nova
CONTACT
Mathieu Filion
Director of Communications
Office of the Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
819-654-5546
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Further Information
Homelessness Partnering Strategy
The Homelessness Partnering Strategy is a unique community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to 61 designated communities in all provinces and territories, as well as to Aboriginal, rural and remote communities across Canada, to help them address homelessness.
Through Budget 2016, the Government of Canada is investing an additional $111.8 million over two years in the Homelessness Partnering Strategy to provide communities the support they need to help prevent and reduce homelessness, including Housing First activities, better emergency response services, and supports for youth, women fleeing violence and veterans. More than $12.5 million of that new funding is being invested towards the Innovative Solutions to Homelessness funding stream.
Since the launch of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, nearly 35,000 Canadians who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless have benefitted from education and training opportunities; over 34,000 have received help to find work; more than 6,000 new shelter beds have been created; and the program has helped place over 82,000 people in more stable housing.
Difference Between Call for Proposalsfor Contribution Projects and Call for Proposals for Microgrants
| HPS Calls for Proposals | CONTRIBUTION PROJECTS | MICROGRANTS |
|---|---|---|
| Call Duration | September 26, 2016 to November 14, 2016 | September 26, 2016 to October 21, 2016 |
| OBJECTIVES | Invites applicants to submit proposals for large-scale pilot projects or capacity building projects that aim to test innovative and promising interventions and practices. | Invites applicants to submit proposals for innovative small-scale projects (or for prototypes) that develop effective and innovative practices, tools, or initiatives that prevent or reduce homelessness in Canada. |
| PROJECT DURATION | Up to 2 years | Up to 1 year |
| FUNDING AVAILABLE PER PROJECT | From $25,000 to $500,000 in contribution funding It is expected that applicants will tailor their budgets to reflect the complexity of the project’s activities | Up to $25,000 in grant funding Top-ranked projects may be eligible for additional funding, up to an additional $25,000, to scale up their proposal. These projects would be invited to present at “Pitch” sessions. |
| PRIORITY AREAS OF FOCUS | Interventions for Specific Populations: creating and testing interventions for specific populations such as youth, Indigenous people, women fleeing violence, and veterans. Supporting Communities of Practice and Knowledge Sharing: encourage increased capacity-building by creating strategic partnerships, and supporting communities of practice. Improving Socio-economic Outcomes: supporting projects that engage private sector partners to improve socioeconomic outcomes for formerly homeless clients. Data Collection: effective practices or innovative techniques used to measure the scope of homelessness | |
| TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS | Contribution projects and Microgrant projects must meet the terms and conditions of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy. Eligible recipients include: not-for-profit organizations; municipal governments; individuals; research organizations and research institutes; public health and educational institutions; band/tribal councils and other Indigenous organizations; and in Quebec, health and social services agencies are eligible for funding, consistent with the formal Canada-Quebec Agreement. Note: for-profit enterprises are eligible for funding, provided that the nature and intent of the project is non-commercial, does not generate profit, and has the support of the local community. | |
| FOR MORE INFORMATION | For more information, please visit this web page: Funding: Innovative solutions to homelessness. | |
| HOW TO APPLY | Please send electronic submissions to hkd-dci@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca by November 14, 2016 (23:59 Pacific time) | Please send electronic submissions to hkd-dci@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca by October 21, 2016 (23:59 Pacific time) |
Innovative Solutions to Homelessness funding stream
The Innovative Solutions to Homelessness funding stream is delivered nationally and supports the development of innovative approaches to reducing homelessness —particularly among Indigenous Canadians, youth, women fleeing violence and veterans.
Funding can be used to support activities in three key areas:
community-based innovative projects to reduce homelessness and/or the cost of homelessness;
building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders; and
testing and/or sharing tools, social metrics and research findings geared towards homelessness.